In February, the smell of lobster on a seaside grill drifts across the southern end of Little Exuma, and boats ease out of Elizabeth Harbour into water that shifts from pale green to deep blue. The days are bright and the evenings pleasant, and the crawfish season is still running. February suits anyone craving a winter week of salty breezes and unhurried island afternoons in the Exumas, an archipelago of more than 365 islands and cays.
What is the weather like in the Exumas in February?
February in the Exumas is warm and bright, a winter month that feels like a gentle early summer to anyone arriving from a northern city. The sea has barely cooled since the start of the year and the days are lengthening week by week.
| Month | Sea at the Exumas (°F) | Daylight on the 15th (hours and minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 78.3 | 10 h 53 min |
| February | 77.2 | 11 h 25 min |
| March | 78.9 | 12 h 04 min |
In Nassau, highs average about 80°F in February, with a few brief showers during the month. That is the air picture to carry in your head for the island chain: shirt-sleeve afternoons, evenings that call for a light layer on a boat deck or a restaurant terrace, and rain that tends to arrive as a passing shower rather than a gray week.
What the month really gives you is light. Daylight now stretches well into the late afternoon, which leaves time for a morning boat outing, a long lunch and still a stroll on the sand before dusk. Mornings are the best moment for photographs of the water, when the shallows look almost clear and the sky has not yet filled with afternoon haze.
Because the sea is only slightly cooler than in the heart of winter, you do not need to plan around it. Pack for sun first, with a layer for the breeze when the boat picks up speed. If a shower rolls through, it is often over by the time you finish your coffee, and the sun returns quickly.
Can you swim in the Exumas in February?
The sea is warm enough for a proper dip in February, though it sits a notch below the bathwater of high summer, so a quick swim feels refreshing rather than languid. Time in the water is best planned around the sun, since the first minutes feel cooler when the breeze is blowing.
Conditions in the Exumas change from day to day and from one stretch of shore to another. A sheltered cove on the harbor side of Great Exuma can look entirely different from a beach facing open water on the same afternoon, and winter weather systems can stir the sea for a day or two. Look at the water itself before you go in, and ask the person running your boat or your lodging how it is that morning.
For snorkelers, February is a month of long boat days out among the cays, with a mask, fins and a light rash guard for the breeze between stops. Families with small children will find that the shallow, sandy edges of many beaches suit wading and sandcastles, while the open-water stretches are better left for those comfortable at sea. Bring a towel that dries fast and a dry bag for your phone.
What to do in the Exumas in February
February in the Exumas is above all a month for the water and for eating well. The crawfish season, which runs from August 1 to March 31, is in full swing, so the fresh spiny lobster that Bahamians call crawfish is on the grill and in the salad bowl. Menus often treat crawfish and lobster as one and the same, so the same plate may appear under either name.
Onions, sweet peppers, lime juice and diced lobster come together in a Bahamian crawfish salad, a vivid combination that usually arrives either over greens or by itself. It also makes a very good sandwich, which suits a lunch eaten on a dock with your feet dangling. Cold drinks, a plate of cracked conch and a shaded table are the usual companions.
Pig Beach on Big Major Cay
The famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas live on Big Major Cay, also known as Pig Beach, near Staniel Cay. About 20 pigs and piglets roam the sand and the shoreline, and they come down to meet the boats. The cay can be reached only by boat, whether your own, a chartered one or a booked boat tour, so the outing begins with a morning on the water.
Part of the charm is the setting. The cay has three freshwater springs, and the surrounding water changes color in bands as you approach. Photographers like the early part of the day for the light and the soft shadows on the beach. Keep your distance from the animals and keep food to yourself, since you are visiting their home.
The trip suits families with children who love animals, couples who want a lazy half day, and anyone assembling a boat-day with several stops. February’s sea temperature makes the boat ride itself part of the pleasure, with the spray warm rather than shocking.
George Town and Elizabeth Harbour
George Town, on Great Exuma, is the capital of the district and a good base for a day on foot. A handsome spot for photos and a well-liked draw for visitors, the Government Building takes its design cues from Government House in Nassau. From there you can follow the waterfront and watch the working life of the harbor.
Elizabeth Harbour, a cove off Great Exuma, is where the Exuma Sailing Club trains young boys and girls from the island. Since 2013 the club has taught sailing at all levels free of charge, thanks to outside funding. When the moment lines up, an hour can pass enjoyably as you sip something cold and watch little boats with vivid sails make their way across the harbor.
The island itself is the largest in the district, 37 miles in length, and it is joined to Little Exuma by a small bridge. That connection makes it natural to pair a morning in town with an afternoon farther south.
Little Exuma and the grilled lobster at Santanna’s
At the southern end of Little Exuma sits Santanna’s, a seaside stop named after Mrs. Rolle’s granddaughter. Mr. Rolle caught and grilled fresh lobster here, and that signature dish turned the place into a destination. February is within the crawfish season, so it is a fitting month to order it.
Go for the plate and the setting. You eat close to the water with the breeze coming in, in a low-key spot that fits the unhurried rhythm of the island. Pair the lobster with a cold Bahamian beer or a fruit punch and take your time over it.
Beyond the Exumas’ food and boats, the district sits within a country that manages more than 30 national parks through the Bahamas National Trust. Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, who grew up on Exuma, speaks of running barefoot on sandbars and swimming from one shade of blue to the next, and says protecting the islands is an obligation, not an option. That spirit is worth carrying into every outing, from boat wakes to beach litter.
A two-day itinerary for the Exumas in February
Day 1 belongs to George Town and the harbor. Start with a slow morning on the waterfront, when the air is cool and the light is soft, and walk to the Government Building for a look at its façade. Keep to the shade as the sun climbs, and let the harbor be your midday backdrop.
Lunch is the moment for a crawfish salad or a lobster sandwich at a casual harbor-side place. In the afternoon, find a spot with a view of Elizabeth Harbour and watch the small sailboats of the Exuma Sailing Club if they are out.
Stay for the evening, when the day’s light turns golden and the breeze cools. If rain turns the afternoon gray, a long indoor lunch and a stroll in between showers will fill the time nicely.
Day 2 is for the water, so start early. Join a boat outing toward Big Major Cay and Staniel Cay, since the cay can be reached only by boat. The morning light is best for photographs of the pigs on the beach and the surrounding shallows, and you will want a hat and a layer for the ride.
Return by the afternoon and head to the southern end of Little Exuma for the grilled lobster at Santanna’s, which makes a fine late lunch or early dinner. If clouds gather, shorten the boat day and plan for the table instead, because the meal is the point of the trip.
Is the Exumas busy in February?
The Exumas spread out over more than 365 islands and cays, so even when a harbor is lively, you can find a quiet cove with a short boat ride. February is a winter month for most American readers, which is exactly why many people look to the islands now, and you should expect George Town and the main boat departures to feel the activity.
What fills up first are the places with limited capacity: boat tours to Pig Beach, small lodgings and restaurants known for their grilled lobster. Planning these early is simply a good habit in any winter month, and the holiday weeks of the school calendar are the moments to settle your outings first. Quieter weeks leave more room to decide on the spot.
Many outings in the Exumas are tied to the water, and the number of boats a place can host is limited. That is why reaching Big Major Cay by tour, charter or your own vessel is worth settling before your arrival. Everything else, from a harbor-side lunch to a stroll through town, can be handled with a lighter touch.
What to pack for the Exumas in February
Pack for sun, salt water and boat decks, with one layer for breezy evenings. Think light, quick-drying and easy to rinse.
- A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, because boat days mean hours of open sky.
- Reef-friendly sunscreen, since you will be in and out of the sea.
- A light jacket or sweater for the boat ride and the evening breeze.
- A mask and snorkel, if you like to see the shallows up close.
- A dry bag, to keep your phone and camera safe from spray.
- Sandals or water shoes for docks and sandy landings.
Good to know before you go
The U.S. State Department rates the Bahamas Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, and says most crime occurs in Nassau on New Providence and in Freeport on Grand Bahama.
February falls well outside the official Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The month is a good moment to focus on the water and the table. Plan the boat outing to Big Major Cay first, since the cay can be reached only by boat, and let the rest of the days fall around it.
The crawfish season ends on March 31, so February is a comfortable moment to enjoy it fully. Menus may use crawfish and lobster interchangeably, and if another lobster variety is served, it is noted by name.
The Exumas in February vs January and March
Shifting your trip to four weeks before means you arrive in January, when the ocean runs about a degree warmer and daylight lasts slightly less, the evening light giving out earlier. The rain pattern in Nassau is similar to February, with short showers rather than long wet spells, so the main difference is the length of the day and the sense of deep winter.
Four weeks later is March, with longer days, a sea that is slightly warmer again and more time for late-afternoon outings. It is also the last month of the crawfish season, which closes on March 31, so the lobster on the grill has a clear end date.
Travelers who want the longest days and the warmest water might lean toward March, while those who want the deepest winter escape may prefer January. February sits in the middle and offers a balanced mix: bright days, warm water and a full lobster season.
Is February a good time to visit the Exumas?
Yes, February is a good time for travelers who want warm, bright days, boat outings and lobster, and who are happy to spend most of the time near the water. It suits couples, families with animal-loving children and anyone who wants a winter week without cold air. People looking for a lively festival calendar or big-resort nightlife may prefer a different place.
On arrival, settle the boat day to Big Major Cay first, then fit the rest around it. Take a first evening walk on the waterfront in George Town to get your bearings, and save the lobster at the southern end of Little Exuma for a day when the weather and your appetite agree.
What makes February special in the Exumas is the combination of a lobster season in full swing, a sea that is still warm and days that stretch a little longer with each week. A plate of grilled crawfish beside the water, with the light turning gold over the cays, is the picture of the month.
Sources
- Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked October 10, 2026
- sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 10, 2026
- NOAA NCEI, GHCN-Daily station BF000078073 (Nassau Airport), normals 1991-2020 computed from the daily record (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=daily-summaries&stations=BF000078073), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, crawfish season (https://www.bahamas.com/blog/its-crawfish-season), checked October 10, 2026
- Wikipedia, Exuma (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exuma), checked October 10, 2026
- Wikipedia, George Town, Exuma (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Town,_Bahamas), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), Exuma Sailing Club (https://www.bahamas.com/experiences/exuma-sailing-club), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), Protecting The Exumas (https://www.bahamas.com/experiences/protecting-the-exumas), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), Santannas Exuma (https://www.bahamas.com/experiences/santannas-exuma), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), Official Home Swimming Pigs (https://www.bahamas.com/experiences/official-home-swimming-pigs), checked October 10, 2026
- Wikipedia, Big Major Cay (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Major_Cay), checked October 10, 2026
- Wikipedia, Geography of the Bahamas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_the_Bahamas), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), Island FAQ (https://www.bahamas.com/plan-your-trip/island-faq), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamas Department of Immigration, Entry requirements (https://www.immigration.gov.bs/entry-requirements/), checked October 10, 2026
- Bahamas Department of Immigration, Before your arrival (https://www.immigration.gov.bs/entry-requirements/before-your-arrival/), checked October 10, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, The Bahamas Travel Advisory, Level 2 (https://travel.state.gov/), checked October 10, 2026
- NOAA National Hurricane Center, Climatology (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), checked October 10, 2026
To plan your stay
- Things to Do in the Exumas: Swimming Pigs, Thunderball Grotto, Beaches and Fresh Lobster
- Where to Stay in the Exumas: George Town, Little Exuma, Staniel Cay and How to Choose
- The Exumas from Miami: Flights, Connections, Boats and Making a Day of It
- Know Before You Go to the Exumas: Entry Rules, Money, Getting Around and Sun